Family events in Routt County, CO

Celebrate Colorado’s ranching heritage at the historic Routt County Fair in Hayden. This long-running summer tradition features livestock shows and rodeos, 4-H and FFA exhibits, live entertainment, family-friendly activities, carnival fun, and classic fair food. There’s something for visitors of all ages, plus a full schedule of events available through the fair’s website.

Designed for children from birth to age 7 with a parent or caregiver, this outdoor story time takes place in the Children’s Garden. A storyteller from Bud Werner Memorial Library shares a story and leads a related activity. Each session introduces a new theme along with a creative art project. Because it is held outside, bring sunscreen, a hat, and bug spray.

Coca-Cola Movies on the Mountain is a free outdoor movie series where family favorites are screened under the night sky at Steamboat Square. For this August 8 showing, bring your group and settle in with your own lawn chair or blanket. Steamboat Radio’s Shannon Lukens (DJ Shan Dawg) will be there with fun giveaways, and there will be outdoor movie concessions available until 9 p.m., with popcorn, boxed candy, and Coca-Cola products. Note that pets are asked to stay home, and jackets are recommended for cooler evening temperatures.

An off-road showdown puts drivers and riders to the test on a packed obstacle course built for mud-slinging, engine-roaring action. Side-by-sides, dune buggies, four-wheelers, and motocross bikes navigate tight corners, rugged stretches, and technical features that demand quick speed and precise control. The course delivers continuous thrills for competitors and spectators as machines kick up dirt and charge through each challenge. Participation is open to a wide range of off-road vehicles, with entry available on site or in advance through the Routt County Fair Office.

Launching the fair in a new way this year, the parade opens the festivities instead of closing them. Spectators can line Highway 40 and South Poplar Street through Hayden to watch the procession. Presented by the Hayden Lions Club, the theme is “The Bounty of Routt County,” celebrating local pride and creativity. Participants need to submit an entry form, with late entries accepted at the Hayden Center, and parade participants meet at the old high school entrance on parade day.

Turn the outdoors into a creative adventure with Yampatykes Week 10: Inspired by the Wild. Kids will explore nature, notice shapes and patterns in things like leaves, flowers, and trees, and use natural materials for art projects inspired by the surrounding landscapes. The week runs Monday through Friday with daytime activities.

This weekly circle offers space for mothers to share, learn, and grow together. It is open to women who are trying to conceive, who are pregnant, or who have recently had a baby. Each gathering features a topic for discussion and tea. Women, babies, and toddlers are welcome.

Join the Northwest Colorado Family Behavioral Health Conference for an in-person, one-day gathering focused on supporting families facing substance use and mental health challenges. The program brings together professionals and community partners to share practical tools and real-world strategies, with sessions that support prevention, early intervention, recovery, and resilience. The day includes keynote discussions on navigating mental health and substance use system challenges and on turning pain into purpose, along with time to connect with others across the systems serving children, youth, and families.